Yale basketball team responds to anger over players' support of expelled captain

Yale's men's basketball team released a statement Wednesday
addressing controversy that has enmeshed the program following
the expulsion of its captain.

The statement references former team captain, Jack Montague, who
multiple sources say
was expelled in connection with a sexual-misconduct
accusation, and for whom team members have shown support.

“Yale Men's Basketball fully supports a healthy,
safe and respectful campus climate where all students can
flourish," the statement provided to Business Insider
read.

"Our recent actions to show our support for one of our former
teammates were not intended to suggest otherwise, but we
understand that to many students they did. We apologize for the
hurt we have caused and we look forward to learning and growing
from these recent incidents."

The statement is likely in response to the tumultuous campus
environment since Montague's fellow teammates wore T-shirts in
support of him during a televised game.

“In the past few weeks on campus there was the incident with the
men's ball team wearing jerseys to support their captain ..."
United Against Sexual Assault at Yale codirector Helen Price told
Business Insider. "That was a catalyst for mobilizing that
anger."

The student said they believed that "rape culture" is prevalent
among college sports programs.

"There's a whole idea that you're expected to get girls, and be
with a lot of women," the student said.

"I don't respect the basketball team for what they did," another
Yale undergraduate student who wished to remain anonymous told
Business Insider.

Still, women's groups are attempting to make headway with the
team to diminish the current tension on campus.

Price met with a senior on the men's basketball team on Tuesday
to discuss a way forward.

"The conversation was productive in the sense that he recognized
there was a problem, and he was trying to talk about ways the
team could possibly make amends,” she said. "I think there's
still a way to go."